On March 8, 2017, plaintiff Steven Chabolla, 60, a maintenance mechanic employed by California Dairies Inc., arrived at the boiler room of the company’s Tipton facility and began to open a gate valve, which was located approximately 12 to 15 feet above ground. He had opened the valve a half hour earlier but returned with the intent of releasing more steam. As he was doing so, the Y-strainer exploded, releasing a high velocity of steam directly at him. His feet were blown off the ladder, which left him hanging on cross-piping for about 10 to 15 seconds before he fell to the ground 12 feet below. Chabolla sustained to his left leg. Chabolla sued the company that installed the Y-strainer, American Inc. and the manufacturer of the component, Legend Valve & Fitting Inc. Chabolla alleged that Legend Valve & Fitting had defectively manufactured the Y-strainer and that American Inc. was negligent in the installation of the component. Plaintiff’s counsel noted that an employee of American Inc. installed new component parts, including the Y-strainer, on the steam line at the premises the day before the incident. Counsel contended that, upon installation, the employee struggled to get the proper alignment of the Y-strainer pointing toward the ground and that, rather than use the torque from a pipe wrench, the employee struck the Y-strainer approximately five times with a mini sledgehammer to rotate the assembly. Plaintiff’s counsel maintained that the Y-strainer exploded as a result of a defect and/or as a result of the employee striking it with a sledgehammer. American Inc.’s counsel contended that while American Inc.’s employee used a sledgehammer, rather than a pipe wrench, the employee was able to effectively rotate the assembly and properly aligned the 45 degree protrusion of the Y-strainer toward the ground. As a result, counsel asserted that the component was properly installed. Legend Valve & Fitting Inc.’s counsel contended that there was no manufacturing defect and that the explosion occurred because Chabolla improperly opened the steam with a valve, resulting in steam hammering, which occurs when steam is placed into a cold line and pushes condensation in that line at a high rate of speed. Counsel for both defendants asserted that Chabolla was negligent for violating applicable California Division of Occupational Safety and Health standards by failing to use fall protection while working on a ladder 12 feet above the ground., Chabolla suffered a bicondylar fracture of his left tibia plateau at the medial and lateral aspects of the bone. The fracture involved the intra-articular surface of the knee. Chabolla was transported by Lifestar Ambulance to Kaweah Delta Healthcare District, in Visalia, where he underwent emergency surgery to place an external fixator to stabilize the injury. He later underwent a second surgery to remove the external fixator. An internal fixation was then performed, consisting of the insertion of a plate and multiple screws. Chabolla claimed that as a result of his injury, he now walks with a limp and is no longer able to perform all of the duties of a maintenance mechanic. He also claimed he suffers from pain, swelling, a loss of strength, and difficulty with weight bearing and carrying heavy objects. Chabolla alleged that he occasionally requires the use of a cane and that his quality of life has diminished. He claimed that although he is able to work, his injury has made work more challenging. All experts agreed that Chabolla will require a total left knee replacement in the future. Chabolla sought recovery of $82,468.18 in medical costs, $60,000 in lost wages, and an unspecified amount of damages for his past and future pain and suffering.